Shoshanah Seumanutafa’s 77th-minute try ended England’s 41-match unbeaten run as Canada beat the world champions 24-21 at Toronto’s BMO Field.

It was an enthralling 80 minutes on the banks of Lake Ontario as the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 finalists met for the second time in a month.

A total of 18,621 supporters made their way to BMO Field for the WXV Global Series game, setting a new attendance record for a standalone women’s rugby fixture in North America. It was also the largest attendance for a Canadian Test match in over a decade.

Within the opening 10 minutes, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald thought she had opened the scoring, only for the TMO to spot clear air between her hand and the ball as she attempted to score. Shortly after, Zoe Harrison was sent to the sin-bin for repeated infringements as Canada piled forward.

The extra space ultimately allowed Savannah Bauder to dot down. It was Canada’s last positive moment of the first half, as Laetitia Royer’s yellow card gave England the opportunity to strike through Maddie Feaunati and Zoe Harrison. Both tries were converted by Harrison.

Although Canada trailed at the break, they remained firmly in the contest as the Red Roses squandered opportunities through individual errors and a lack of clinical finishing.

England were made to pay for those mistakes in the second half. Alysha Corrigan’s try to open the half was a brilliant statement of intent from Kévin Rouet’s side, even if Sarah Bern rumbled over the try line just three minutes later.

As the game wore on, Canada’s belief continued to grow. The home crowd’s roar was so loud that it shook the television cameras. By the final half-hour, Toronto had become a formidable place for the Red Roses to play.

To seize control, Canada turned to one of their most reliable performers. DaLeaka Menin powered over the try line in the 63rd minute, and Sophie de Goede’s conversion brought the hosts within two points.

De Goede also played a part in the winner. Her carry drew in defenders before she shifted the ball to Gabrielle Senft, who in turn found Seumanutafa out wide. The back, introduced early after Alexandra Tessier failed a head injury assessment (HIA), dived over in the corner to send BMO Field into raptures.

Moments later, the ball was launched into the stands. Canada had made no secret of their ambition to beat England in the WXV Global Series, and they achieved it in style.

This result was coming for the Red Roses

Going unbeaten for 41 consecutive matches is an extraordinary achievement, one that underlines just how dominant England have been. But there had been signs across their three previous WXV Global Series matches that their winning run was under threat. In Toronto, that vulnerability was finally exposed.

Canada’s ability to stay in the fight was a major reason for the result. They defended for long periods, won turnovers at crucial moments and capitalised on the kind of individual errors that are rarely associated with the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 champions.

Against Australia in Salford, England trailed at half-time for the first time in five years. Against Canada in Exeter, their winning run was extended to 38 games before finally coming to an end in Toronto. It took a moment of individual brilliance against the Black Ferns at Allianz Stadium to secure victory in that contest. England have been impressive this autumn, but they have also shown they can be challenged.

In a wider context, women’s rugby is beginning to look increasingly competitive. Canada will be relishing next week’s clash in Ottawa, while the USA Women’s Eagles will also be watching closely. Both teams are due to end their calendar years against one another at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Friday, 30 October.

Physicality was on a different level

The physicality in Toronto was impossible to ignore. It was one of the defining factors in a contest where both teams were forced to work relentlessly without the ball.

Canada made 165 tackles to England’s 218, with both teams missing more than 20. In many ways, the match resembled their 26-26 draw three weeks earlier at Sandy Park, with the intensity making for compelling viewing.

Canada had six players make double-digit tackle counts, led by Sophie de Goede with 20. She also kicked conversions and orchestrated play across the field, underlining her influence at both ends of the game.

England are not often challenged with that level of physicality, and their recent matches offer some evidence of that. It was only when the Wallaroos began to tire in Salford that the Red Roses were able to pull away.

How England respond to this defeat will be intriguing. They have defensive guru Shaun Edwards in camp, a coach renowned for getting the best out of his teams. It would be a surprise if he did not help John Mitchell’s players find a response in Ottawa.

Toronto should be on the calendar again

For much of the past 12 months, we have praised the showpiece fixtures added to the calendar.

The Aviva Stadium, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Principality Stadium and Stade Atlantique have all hosted major occasions over the past year. BMO Field may not have enjoyed the sunshine, but the atmosphere was electric.

The tone was set early when Claudia Moloney-MacDonald had a try ruled out, prompting a home supporter to lock eyes with the camera and celebrate the decision with unrestrained enthusiasm. Then came the towels twirling through the air every time Canada scored. It was remarkable that a Canadian team had gone a decade without playing a game in Toronto.

Canadians have a reputation for being friendly. There was nothing welcoming about Friday’s atmosphere for the Red Roses. Supporters lit red flares as their players arrived, creating a spectacle worthy of the contest that followed. The stadium shook every time Canada made a break or added to the scoreboard. It was mesmerising.

You have to hope Toronto remains on the agenda. BMO Field could become a genuine long-term home for Rugby Canada.